Archive for February 2017

We often hear people claim physical therapy is the same as chiropractic treatment. While both professionals deal with the treatment of pain and injury, the methods used and training of the physical therapist and chiropractor are drastically different. At Layton Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, we focus on identifying the most effective treatments for pain and inflammation. Our goal is to identify the treatments that work for your body and accelerate healing time.

Specializing in Soft Tissue Injuries

Physical therapists are specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue injuries. We often work with soft tissue injuries related to the muscles, ligaments, fibrous tissue, tendons, nerves, fascia, blood vessels, and synovial membranes. Soft tissue injuries can occur from something as simple as failing to stretch before a workout to something more extreme. Soft tissue injuries commonly occur when you have an unexpected or uncontrolled movement, such as tripping while walking upstairs and injuring an ankle.

When you are dealing with a soft tissue injury, it is common to feel immediate pain or delayed swelling. Typically patients will have stiffness within 24-48 hours following the injury. The recovery time from a soft tissue injury varies based on the extent of the injury and the treatment plan you are following. In the majority of cases a grade 1 soft tissue injury normally recovers in about two weeks. A grade 2 injury can take upwards of four weeks. We recommend visiting our physical therapy office in Layton for additional information related to your injury. Our experts will work with you to determine the extent of the injury and figure out how to accelerate healing time to get you back to doing the activities you love.

Treatment of Soft Tissue Injuries

We use Dry Needling and a variety of techniques to effectively treat soft tissue injuries. We want to ensure you receive the best possible treatment for your injury. Physical therapy is designed to speed up the process for an injury and prevent long-term care and potential surgery needs. Our experts will discuss the best method with you regarding active rest, total immobility, and other needs for soft tissue rehabilitation. Having gentle, controlled motion and exercise is the best way to stimulate the overall healing process and prevent additional damage.

The use of specific manual therapy techniques is commonly used to restore motion to the impacted area. We will provide other treatments to reduce swelling and manage inflammation. Dry Needling is commonly used by our physical therapist to aid in managing pain, reducing inflammation, and restoring normal range of motion. In addition to a restorative treatment program, we will discuss at-home techniques you can do to aid in the healing process. Our goal is to restore the muscles ability to respond and move properly within the body.

What Chiropractors Provide

Chiropractors are different from physical therapists as they focus on adjustments and various techniques that may be able to reduce the pain in your body and assist in helping you move more freely. However, when it comes to long-term pain relief, chiropractors do not provide the same services you will receive from a physical therapist. Normally a chiropractic treatment can help patients feel good for a day or two, but often have the stiffness and pain return in a day or two. Without proper treatment for the injury sustained, the healing process will not work effectively. At Layton Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, we focus on helping your body return to its pre-injury status and help you become capable of withstanding the day-to-day forces you face in your life.